Musea has unearthed another lost treasure, that being the 1981 debut and only release from Netherworld, which was originally titled In the Following Half-Light. Containing all the songs from the original album, plus the instrumental suite "Cumulo Nimbus", this CD is a strong mix of early 80's prog (Twelfth Night, Marillion, Saga) with classic sounds of the 70's like Genesis, Van Der Graaf Generator, and King Crimson.
Those into wild and varied keyboard sounds will find much to sink their teeth into here. "Son of Sam" features loads of Melltron, ARP synth, and organ, to go along with some ripping guitar solos that create a very ominous overall tone. Songs like "Too Hard to Forget" and "Maybe if They Burn Me" combine the sounds of Saga and VDGG, mixing bouncy symphonic prog and more darker lyrical themes, creating a very unique sound. Denny Gordon's vocals have a bit of Peter Hammill's angst, some of Fish's fire, and a little of Geoff Mann's wit. However, starting on the seconf half of the CD with "Isle of Man", the band goes for the full Genesis retro trip, with Tony Banks influenced Mellotron and synth work, gorgeous piano, Peter Gabriel type vocals, cello, and lots of melodic and tasty guitar leads, sounding a bit like a young Steve Hackett. Throw in some fine 12 string guitar work as well and you have simply a stunning piece of music. A similar, yet more moody tone can be heard on "A Matter of Time", a tune about the wonders of rivers that empty into the sea, featuring heaps of 12 string and Mellotron. The three-part track "Sargasso closes out the regular portion of the album, and is a more aggressive piece that features fine guitar work, both rhythm and lead, plus more creepy Mellotron and theatrical vocals. Fans of epic, complex prog 70's style will love this tune.
The three-part "Cumulo Nimbus" suite takes a much different approach, perhaps mixing some early King Crimson and Yes with symphonic fusion, and gives the whole band a chance for a real musical workout. The interplay is pretty furious for the most part, with ominous dark yet beautiful passages interspersed throughout the piece that make for a wonderful and varied instrumental epic.
As you can gather, this will make a great addition to your collection of long lost prog classics.
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